Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere

Author:Lisa Bevere
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307457783
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Published: 2010-09-20T22:00:00+00:00

THE VALUE OF STRONG WOMEN

As I write, Twitter, post messages on Facebook, and stand before women, whether I am communicating in meetings or by way of broadcasts, I continually take every opportunity to proclaim the value of women. I deliberately remind them there is a need for their voice and contribution in the church, outside the church, and on local and worldwide levels. It is my prayer that they will not only believe and celebrate it but that they will live it.

After speaking, I consistently hear this question raised: “Can you please tell the men this?” Their suggestions come in whispers as though it might be dangerous if someone overheard and discovered they had dared to suggest I openly share such a thing.

I used to think it was enough to encourage only the women. There is incredible value in speaking to women in intimate, safe settings. But as this journey of God’s daughters continues, I’ve learned that speaking this type of encouragement only to women is not enough, just as there is limited value when only one side of a coin is intact.

Over the last few years, my world enlarged, and my voice was invited and welcomed into the Sunday morning church world. This of course includes men. As I raise my voice in mixed-gender settings, I let them know that women are amazing.

Rarely do I see the men contest this. I intentionally let them know I think men are amazing too! In the last few years, I have seen a lot of tears from the men. I’ve watched as husbands and wives embraced and called off their wrestling matches. I love what happens as they ask for forgiveness from each other for their silly power struggles.

Dear lioness sister, men are not our problem. This issue runs much deeper. Satan is our enemy and a deceiver who strips both genders of their dignity. Though they aren’t the problem, men can and should be a part of the answer. Something dynamic happens when men shoulder some of the load of the restoration of dignity and power alongside the women.

Sometimes positioning yourself to be heard is more than half the battle. The men in your world need to be able to hear you, and they need to hear others who are encouraging men and women to rise up together. If there is to be change, we must all be saying the same thing. Let’s echo God’s stance.

To do this, I want to take an in-depth look at 1 Corinthians 11. I am going to break it down into separate and distinct pieces, then cover the perspective of the whole.

Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. (verse 10)

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